Printing unit



A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Aug. 31, 1937.

Original Filed Dec. 50, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet l I up! r e g gvvventowA601 [(711 "e and Ezmval jzz fe Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLIJGE ET AL 3PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 50, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 gww/ntowAbel, K712 e and Eneflal [C age amt Aug. 31 1937. A. KLUGE n AL2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 gm'ntowAbel King? and Eneflal Kluge Aug. 31, 1937. KLUGE 51- AL 2,091,322-

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwumtowAbel K'lu "e and 322000! luge dam s- 7- A. KL l JGE ET AL I 2,091,322

'- PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec 50, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 Q B Fg.5 35

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A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Dec. 30,1932 gwuentozq, Abel [(711 "e and Eneflal luge Aug. 31, 1937.

A. KLUGE ET AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 I Z I f 4gwuenlfow Abel Kluge and Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNITOriginal Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 EnezJaI K'la e and'Kgugia Aug. '31, 51:837.

A. KLUGE AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Fiied Dqc. 30, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 gwuentom,Abel K'lzz "e and Ezieflal Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE -r AL PRINTING UNITOriginal Filed Dec. 50, 1932 15 Sheets-51106 010 3mm; Abel Kluge andEneval K7 age Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Original FiledDec. 30, 1952 15,8heets-Sheet 11 I gwumtou,

-AbeI'Klu and Eneflal age Aug. 31, 1937.

A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT Y Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15Sheets-Sheet 12 gwuewtow Abel K721 e and Eneflal Kluge Aug. 31, 1937. A.KLUGE ET AL 2,091,322

PRINTING UNIT Original Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-SheeLlS Abel K'Zu"e and $2202 0! 112 e Aug. 31, 1937. A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNITOriginal Filed Dec. 30, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 I amnion,

Abel E22 gm I/ Aug. 31, 1937.' A. KLUGE ET AL PRINTING UNIT OriginalFiled Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 /54 Mr I gwwntom Abel K'Zzz '2and 1511292201 Kgz e J, 1;

Patented An. 31, 1937 UNiTE STATES PATENT OFFIQE PRINTING UNITApplication December 30, 1932, Serial No. 649,567 Renewed February 8,1937 11 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in printing units in which sheetfeeding and delivering mechanisms are incorporated.

Heretofore, in the field of hand fed platen presses and, particularly,presses of the so-called Gordon type, it has been customary to attachthereto, in various ways, feeding and delivering mechanisms of one formor another such, for example, as is shown in Patent Nos. 1,145,405 and1,472,656. In converting such presses by attaching such mechanismsthereto in order that they may be fed automatically, as well as by hand,comparatively good results have been attained. But, with the moderntrend, wherein the tendency is to eliminate hand feeding at everyopportunity and to increase production through the use of automaticfacilities, such composite structures are not wholly acceptable. That isto say, there is more to be desired in a structure which,

2 almost exclusively, is to be operated automatically. This gives riseto various needs and particularly to the need of a structure of aunitary design and construction by which printing of highest excellencemay be turned out at high speed.

It is an object of our present invention to supply an improved printingunit of the present character in which relatively short throws of thebed permit of high operating speeds, and in which the associatedelements are designed and coordinated to provide a compact unitaryorganization of high and lasting emciency, capable of smooth operationat sustained high speed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a construction, as above,wherein the different elements in the power train, which operate thevarious moving parts of the structure, are devised and associated in amanner making for simplicity and durability.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic printingunit of the bed and platen type in which control of the sheets, from thestock magazine to the delivery pile, is at all times maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a printing unit ofthe present nature, grippers which hold the printed sheet in place onthe opening piaten and which, in their receding move- :nent from theplaten, are coordinated with the movements the delivery grips and feedgrips to free the printed sheet to the former and to keep clear of thelatter and the fresh sheet carried thereby.

An additional object of the invention is to sup- 5 ply a printing unitof the present nature having registering means, adjustable while theplaten is in motion, for shifting a fed sheet into selected position onthe platen and having platen grippers for holding the printed sheetflatly against the opening platen to keep said sheet from curling 5 andto keep it from being otherwise displaced from such selected position onthe platen as by the rapid movement of said platen in opening,

or by the retreating movement of the register means and, further, havingdelivery grips for 10 grasping the printed sheet, at predeterminedlocalities thereon, in the said selected position of said sheet on theplaten.

Another object of the invention resides in incorporating in a printingunit of the present kind, 15 a trip mechanism adapted to be actuatedupon failure of the feed grips to take a sheet, such mechanism includinglinkage for turning the eccentric backshaft of the bed to throw-off theimpression, said linkage having a pivot, between links, normally axiallyheld in position coinciding with the axis about which the bed rocks andadapted, in such relation of said pivot, to secure said eccentric shaftagainst turning as the bed rocks back and forth.

An object of the invention is to supply a printing unit of the presentnature, in which reciprocating linkage, operated through the powertrain, is employed to operate the sheet advancing mechanism of theswingable stock magazine and is provided, between links, with aswiveling coupling axially aligned with the axis on which the magazineswings.

A further object of the invention is to provide, through the power trainof the unit, coordinated movements of the delivery grips and the pilegauge which controls the lowering of the delivery table, whereby thegauge is shifted into a position so as not to interfere with the properpiling of a sheet as it drops from the delivery grips.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel rollercarriage construction which is reciprocated through balanced drivingmechanism designed to minimize wear and strains on the parts. 45

Another object of the invention is to provide for the simplified andeffective actuation of the platen rocker look.

A feature of the invention resides in interposing an ink fountainbetween the ink plate and 50 the position occupied by a form on the bed,and in oscillating the ink fountain to apply ink to the inking rollersonly, as they pass from the form toward the ink plate.

Another feature of the invention resides in the novel and effectiveassociation of the oscillating fountain with the throw-off mechanism ofthe unit so that the fountain will be shifted into and held ininoperative position when the impression is thrown off.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with theroller carriage, a frame for form roller rider rolls, which frame isswingable to give access to the form rollers at the front of thecarriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the ready removal ofthe form rollers from the carriage, and for the ready adjustment of saidrollers in the carriage, whereby, in a single guided movement, each formroller may be shifted toward or from the plane of the form and inkingplate and, simultaneously, toward or from the periphery of itsrespective rider roll.

A feature of the invention resides in swinging the inking plate out ofthe inking plane to lend access thereto and to the form rollers at therear of the roller carriage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for theintermittent oscillation of the 1 inking plate, to: present the same indifferent angular relations with respect to the form, whereby uniformityin the distribution of ink is promoted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in thefollowing description, the invention resides in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a printing unitembodying our invention; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the unit asseen from the left side thereof; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational viewthereof; Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical, central sectional views of the unittaken from front to rear thereof in opposite directions; Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view taken as on the line 7-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is adetail view illustrating, particularly, the gearing and cam assembly atthe right side of the unit; Fig. 9 is a detail view in vertical sectionof the cam assembly; Figs. 10 and ll are detail views illustrating theplaten rocker lock, Fig. 11 being a fragmentary rear elevational viewand Fig. 10 a vertical sectional view taken on the line i6-l0 of Fig.11; Fig. 12 is a vertical, central sectional View taken through the bedof the unit, the same illustrating the construction and relativearrangements of the roller carriage rails, the oscillating ink fountain,the swingable ink plate, the carriage blocks and the form rollers anddistributing rider rollers carried thereby; Fig. 13 is a detail view insection taken as on the line i3-l3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a perspectiveview illustrating one of the carriage blocks and also showing theconstruction of the adjustable cup bearings for the form rollers; Fig.15 is a sectional view in detail, the same being taken as on the linel5l5 of Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of one of the cupbearings for the form rollers; Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammaticviews illustrating the action of the mechanisms employed to oscillatethe ink fountain and to rotate the fountain roll; Figs. 21, 22 and 23are elevational views illustrating details in the construction of thedelivery table lowering mechanism, Figs. 21 and 22 being taken fromposition as at the left of the printing unit and Fig. 23 as from thefront thereof; Figs. 24 and 25 are also detail views, said views showingthe platen and the side register gauge therefor with its mechanism foradjusting the thrust of said gauge while the platen is moving, and Figs.26, 27, and 28 are additional detail views showing the oscillatinginking plate, its swingable mounting and the means employed foroscilating said plate, Fig. 26 being a front elevational view, Fig. 27 asectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26, and Fig. 28 a viewsimilar to Fig. 27 showing the parts of the plate oscillating mechanismin positions differing from those shown in Fig, 27.

Reference being had to the drawings, wherein similar parts throughoutthe several views are designated by similar reference characters, itwill be noted that in the printing unit illustrated as an embodiment ofour invention, the framework of said unit includes right and left sideframes 3i}, 3! connected by cross stays 32. A crankshaft 33 Journaled inthe side frames 30, 3| carries a fly wheel 34 at one end thereof and tothis is keyed a pinion 35 (Figs. 1 and 8), which meshes with a gear camwheel 36 fixed to a shaft 37 Journaled in said side frames 30, 3f.Trunnioned in the side frames 30, 3| is a platen rocker 33 carrying aplaten 39. Secured to a trunnion (Fig. 8) of said platen rocker 38 is arocker arm 4! having a cam roller 42 thereon which travels in the cam 43of the gear cam wheel 36, said rocker arm 4! serving to oscillate saidplaten rocker 38 and the platen 39 carried thereby. Back of the sideframes 39, Si is a bed 44 having a form receiving recess 95 therein andhaving legs 46 pivoted on a bed shaft 47 mounted at its ends in thelower rear portions of the side frames 30, 3|. Journaled in ears 48projecting rearwardly from the bed 44 is a back shaft 49 to the ends ofwhich are connected side arms 50, 5|, the former being connected with acrank wheel 52 on the shaft 31 and the latter with the gear cam wheel 36also on said shaft 37!, Power applied to the crank shaft 33, as througha pulley 53 (Fig. 4) thereon, causes the platen 39 to tip back and forthfrom open position (Fig. 6) to impression position (Fig. 3) and causes arelative movement of the bed 44, bringing a form therein against theplaten 39 in its impression position and substantially retracting thebed 44 from the platen 39 in the open position of the latter.

Rails 54 secured to the sides of the bed 44 guide carriage blocks 55 upand down thereon. These blocks 55 support inking rollers 56 which intheir reciprocating cycle, contact with a form in the bed M and with aninking plate 51 between the rails 54 and also with the fountain roll 58of an oscillating ink fountain 59 disposed between said bed and inkingplate. The carriage blocks 55 are reciprocated in unison by similarmechanisms at either side of the unit, which include bellcranks 9F]keyed to the opposite ends of a unit master shaft 6! Journaled in theside frames 30, 3!, and which further include rods 62 and links 63, therods 62 connecting the bed with said bell cranks SE) and the links 63connecting said bell cranks with said blocks 55. Due to the arrangementof the bell cranks 60, as shown, the connections between them and saidlinks 63 are constantly disposed substantially in the reciprocal planeof the carriage blocks 55, the result being that forces acting on thecarriage blocks 55, through links 63, are at all times exerted indirections substantially parallel with the rails 54 upon which saidblocks ride. This feature, is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, where the blocksoccupy extreme positions and the links 63, in both positions of saidblocks, occupy positions substantially paral-- III leling the rails 54.With said links 93 thus disposed at all times with respect to the rails54, it will be readily understood that lateral thrusts of the carriageblocks against their rails are practically eliminated and that saidblocks will move freely up and down on said rails without binding.

Counterbalancing the weight of the roller carriage blocks 55 and therollers 56 carried thereby, is a compression spring 64 (Fig, 6). Thisspring encircles a rod 65 pivotally connected at its forward end to acam 66 on the unit master shaft 66 and slidably mounted at its rearportion in a bracket 97 secured to a cross stay 32 between the sideframes 39 and iii. The forward end of the spring 64 abuts against acollar 68 on rod 65 while the rear end of said spring abuts against thebracket 61. The cam 66, not only performs the function of a earn, aslater will be described, but also constitutes an arm for resisting,through spring 94, the rotation of shaft 6| in a direction to lower thecarriage blocks 55, the strength of said spring being such as tosubstantially balance the carriage blocks 55 and the inking rollerscarried thereby. In this construction, the carriage blocks 55 with theirrollers 56 are easily moved up and down the rails 54 without strain orundue wear upon the parts.

The cam 66, last above mentioned, actuates a rocker lock 99 (Figs. 10and 11) hinged on a shaft 78 mounted at its ends in the side frames 39,3 i. This rocker lock includes a pair of arms H formed with bosses l2journaled on said shaft Iii, said arms being connected throughreinforcing tie members 13. Depending from one of the bosses i2 is anarm l4 having a roller '15 at the lower end thereof which rides the cam6'9 on shaft 6!, said roller being held against the face of said cam bymeans of an expansion spring Hi. This spring encircles a rod H, which isattached at its forward end to a lug l9 fastened to an arm H of therocker lock, said rod being slidable forth and back through an aperturein a lug l9 fastened to the side frame 3!. The forward end of saidexpansion spring i9 abuts against said lug '29, while the rear endthereof abuts against a collar 80 on the rod Tl. The joint action of thecam 66 and spring 1'6 causes the rocker lock 69 to swing forth and backand to dwell during certain periods at the extremities of its movement.Said rocker lock 69 cooperates with a locking extension ti on the platenrocker 38. In the impression position of the platen, shoulders 82 (Figs.10 and 11) on said locking extension engage abutments 83 on cross stay32, said extension having abutments 84 thereon which, in turn, areengaged by the tips of the arms ll of the rocker look. Thus, the lockingextension BI is held locked against movement in one direction by theframework of the unit and against movement in the opposite direction bythe rocker lock 69. With the looking extension 8! held in this manner,the platen 39 on rocker 38 is rigidly held in the proper position toreceive the impression at the appropriate time in the cycle of relativemovement of the platen and bed. Following the impression period andbefore the platen begins to open, the rocker lock 69 is caused to swingforward, against the action of spring l8, out of its extension engagingposition into inoperative position (Figs. 5 and 6) and is caused toremain in such inoperative position until the platen returns toimpression position, whereupon spring i6 is permitted to act and thusagain engage the arms H thereof with the abutmerits 84 of the platenrocker extension 8!,

Provision is made for throwing off the unit or,

in other words, for shortening the normal forward throw of the bed 44and thereby preventing the form in the bed from contacting with theplaten 39 in its impression position. To this end, the back-shaft 49 isformed at its extremities with eccentric studs 85 (dotted lines, Figs.17-20) to which the rear ends of the side arms 5e are pivotallyconnected. Secured to the back-shaft 49 for rocking the same, is an arm86 (Figs. 3 and '7) having pivoted thereto a depending link 81'. At itslower end, this link BI is connected through a pivot pin 88 with theforward end of an arm 89 (Figs. 2 and 3), the rearward end of which ispivoted to an upright bracket 9E secured to a foot of the side frame 3!.Said arm 89 is normally held against pivoting on the bracket 99 and inposition, wherein the axis of the pivot. pin 93 coincides with the axisof the bed shaft 41'. In this relation of said parts, the back shaft i9is held against rotation as the bed 44 rocks back and forth and in suchangular position in its bearings that the eccentric studs 85 areproperly disposed to cause the form in the bed to contact with theplaten 39 in the impression positions of bed and platen. The means forholding the arm 99 in its normal position (Fig. 2) consists of asuspension link 9|, jointed medially as at 92. This suspension link 9!is pivoted at its lower end to the arm 89 by means of the pivot pin 89through which said arm is connected to the depending link 81, the upperend of said suspension link being pivoted to the tip of the uprightbracket 99. Through said suspension link 9!, the forward end of thepivoted arm 89 is elevated to thrust the link 8'! upwardly and thus rockthe arm 86 and turn the back shaft 49 sufficiently to prevent the bedfrom closing against the platen. Operating to break the jointedsuspension link 9 i, and thus swing the arm 89, is a hand lever 93pivoted between its extremities to a bracket 94 on" the side frame 3|,the lower end of said lever 93 being connected by means of a tie bar 99with an arm 96 issuing from the upper member of the jointed link 9|. thehand lever 93 rearwardly, the link 95 is broken at the joint 92 thereinand the train of parts, consisting of the pivoted arm 89, depending link87 and rock arm 86, is actuated to rock the back shaft 49 and throw offthe impression. The impression is thrown on again by swinging the handlever 93 back and thus restoring the back shaft 49 to its normalposition. As the jointed suspension link 9| reassumes its extendedposition, the axis at the joint 92 thereof passes slightly past centerat which point the lower extremity of the upper member of said linkengages a stop lug 9'! on the pivoted arm 89. In this relation of parts,the jointed link 9! is locked against being broken, except through apull on the tie-bar 95, the pivoted arm 89 being thus rigidly heldagainst pivotal movement and the back shaft 49, in turn, firmly heldagainst rotation in the rocking bed. The hand lever 93 is not onlyoperated by hand, but is also operated automatically, as will laterappear, for the purpose of throwing off the impression when theautomatic sheet feeding mechanism, hereinafter described, fails to graspa sheet and for the purpose of throwing on the impression when saidfeeding mechanism again takes a sheet.

The guide rails 54 for the ink roller carriage blocks 55 consist of barssuitably secured flatwise to the sides of the bed 44, each of the barsbeing beveled at both edges to form opposed V-shaped Ways 98.

The carriage blocks 55, constituting a roller Upon swinging the upperend of carriage, ride up and down on said guide rails 54 and in theirreciprocating cycle bring the composition form rollers 5 3 into contactwith a form in the bed M and with the fountain roll 58 of the oscilatinginking fountain carried by said rails 56 above the bed, and also bringsaid composition rollers 56 into contact with the inking plate 5?carried by said rails 54 above said inking fountain 59. On the upwardstroke of the carriage blocks 55 the ink rollers 56 engage the thenprojected fountain roll 58. In the final stage of said upward stroke ofsaid carriage blocks, and also during the initial stage of theirdownward stroke, the ink rollers 55 contact with the inking plate 5?effecting a distribution of ink thereon and on said rollers 56. As thecarriage blocks 55 descend and pass the form in the bed M, the inkrollers 56 Contact with and ink the form.

The carriage blocks 55 are elongated structures, each including aweb-like body and front and rear bearing 99 (Fig. 14), which correspondwith and ride the opposed V-shaped ways $8 of its respective carriagerail 56. Each carriage block 55 further includes a forwardly projectingframe plate I80, the two frame plates of the two blocks serving tosupport the form rollers 56. Hinged frames IflI (Fig. 12), one for eachplate I60, support link distributing rolls I532, which ride the formrollers 56. Each hinged frame is of a bar-like construction pivoted atone extremity to the lower end of its respective frame plate IE5 andprovided at its other extremity with a locking head I8 2. Normally thesehinged frames Ifii are closed upon the frame plates I063 of the carriageblocks 55, the head IE4 of each hinged frame being releasably engaged bya latch I65 pivoted at the upper end of its respective frame plate I85The rider rolls I02 (Figs. 7 and 13) are of the vibrating type, thethreaded ends of the shafts Hi5 thereof being threaded in one of thehinged frames IEiI in bosses I01, while the opposite ends of said shaftsare journaled in the other hinged frame IEII in bosses I08. Said shaftsI953, at said latter ends thereof, are provided with gears I88, meshingwith idler gears IIS mounted on the frame plate Hit of the correspondingcarriage block 55, said idler gears III) being also in mesh with a rackbar HI secured to the rail 5% upon which said block rides. The bossesIli, I58 on the hinged frames iBI enter guiding recesses III-2 (Figs. 12and 14) in the frame plates Iflii when said frames IBI are closed uponsaid frame plates with the result that the vibrating rider rolls I82always have the same relative disposition in the roller carriage whenthe hinged frames iElI are latched in place. The four composition formrollers 56 are arranged in pairs, the two rollers of one pair beingadapted to be engaged by one of the vibrating distributor rolls I532 andthe two rollers of the other pair being adapted to be engaged by theother vibrating distributor roll. All of said form rollers 56 areadapted to engage the inking plate 51 and the form in the bed 44, saidrollers 56 being adiustably and removably mounted on the frame platesI08 of the carriage blocks 55, the mode of mounting being the same ineach instance. Referring to Figs. 12 and 14 and to the companion viewson the same sheet, it will be seen that each inking roller 55 has rollerbearings H3 secured to the opposite ends of its shaft II l. These rollerbearings I53 are removably seated in cup bearings H5, each of whichcomprises a disk-like head H5 and a flange IITI, semi-circular in form,issuing from said head. On this head I I6, at the side thereof oppositethe flange I I1, is a curved rib I I8, which fits in a curved groove H9(Fig. 14) in one of the frame plates I00, said rib I IS and head I I6being formed with a threaded bore I to receive the threaded end of afastening bolt I2I (Fig. 15) passing through a curved slot I22 formed inthe frame plate H153 and communicating with the curved groove H9 inwhich the rib H8 is disposed. With the cup bearing II5 secured in placeby its fastening bolt I2I, the lower portion of the flange II'I slightlyunderreaches the roller bearing II3 placed therein, said flange inconjunction with a. keeper I23 serving firmly to hold the roller bearingII3 in place. Said keeper I23 consists of a pin with a right angularbend thr ein one reach of the pin constituting a stem 5 which isslidably and rotatably mounted in a bore I25 in the head H6, the otherreach of said pin constituting a finger I26 adapted to overrcach theroller bearing H3 in cup bearing HE. A spring I21 acting on the stem I24of the keeper causes the finger I26 to engage said roller bearing IE3yieldingly, said spring being intercsed between the head N6 of the cupbearing and a pin-tie I28 passing through said stem I24 of the keeperI23. The head H6 is notched as at I29 (Fig. 16) to receive the fingerI26 and thus allow it to engage and hold the roller bearing I I3 seatedin the cup bearing II5. At one side of his recess I29, the head IIS ismachined to form a cam surface I39 upon which the finger I28 rides, whenit is turned (Figs. 12 and 14) to free the roller bearing I I3. In thusturning said finfier the cooperation thereof with said cam surface ISLresults in readily sliding the stem $3 1 in the head IIIi against theaction of the keeper spring I221.

The curved grooves I I9 for the companion cup bearings H5 of each pairof inking form rollers 5 3 are oppositely disposed, as shown in Fig. 14and provide for adjustments of said cup bearings, whereby the formrollers 56 carried thereby may be shifted toward or from theirrespective ink distributing roller I02 and the plane common to theinking plate 51 and the form. These adjustments are readily made tocompensate for expansion and contraction in the form rollers 56, the ofadjustment being facilitated due to the form and arrangement of thegrooves II9, whereby the movement of an inking roller 55 toward itsrespective distributor roll I02 is effected simultaneously with acorresponding appropriate movement of such inking roller 56 toward theplane of the inking plate 51.

In addition to the vibrating rider rolls I82, the hinged frames 565icarry idler distributing rollers iSI, I32 (Figs. 12 and 13), which ridecertain of the form rollers 56. Roll I3I is journaled at its ends inpins i33 slidably mounted in bearings I34 secured to the hinged framebars I 9!. These bearings are so located on said frame bars IIlI th tthe roller I3I lies between the lower roller the upper pair of inkingrollers 56 and the upper roller of the lower pair of inking rollers 56,when the hinged frame bars IIJI are closed upon the frame plates I80.Said distributing roll I3I, in such position, contacts yieldingly withsaid inking rollers, dueto the action of expansion I35 which encirclethe pins I33 and react against the bearings I34. Distributing roll I32is arranged to engage the uppermost inking roller and is journaled atits ends in clips I36 pivoted to the hinged frame arms IIlI on clampingscrews I 37, which are released to permit of the adjustment of saidroller I32 and thereafter tightened to secure it in adjusted position.

In providing the upper rider roll I02 for the two form rollers 56 of theupper pair thereof and the lower rider roll I02 for the two form rollers58 of the lower pair, and in further providingthe rider roll I3I for thelower form roller of the upper pair and for the upper form roller of thelower pair, the ink on said form rollers is effec- 10 tively broken up,without interruption, through the entire train thereof.

In mounting the distributing rider rolls Hi2, I3I and I32 on the hingedframe arms IDI, said rollers are easily swung forwardly away from theform rollers 56 to facilitate the cleaning of all of said rollers. Infurther facilitating the cleansing of the inking rollers, the inkingplate 51 is adapted to be swung rearwardly from its normal position(Fig. 6) into a retracted position such as that shown in Fig. 12 andthus give access to the form rollers 56 from the rear as well as fromthe front.

The oscillating ink fountain (Fig. 12), indicated in its entirety at 59,includes end frame members I38 and the fountain feed roll 58 journaledat its ends in said end frame members I38. This ink fountain 59 furtherincludes a back wall I39, a plate I48 secured along its upper edge tosaid wall I39, and thumb screws I4l threaded in said wall for holdingthe lower marginal portion of said plate I48 more or less closelypositioned with respect to the fountain feed roll 58. The end framemembers I38 are secured to brackets I42 pivoted on studs I43 threaded inthe guide rails 54.

A horizontally disposed U-shaped extension I44 (Fig. 4) is attached tothe ink fountain 59, one branch of said extension being suitably securedto an end wall I38 of said fountain. A leg I45 secured to said extensionand extending rearwardly therefrom and thence downwardly is supplied atits lower extremity with a roller I45 which bears upon a track I41 (Fig.3). This track I41 is pivoted at its forward end to the side arm 50 atthe left side of the unit, said track at the rear end thereof beingbeveled as at I48, the beveled portion resting upon a pin I49 mounted ona cap piece I50 secured to the end of the back shaft 49. Through saidside arm 58 and track I41, the inking fountain 59 is oscillated andnormally caused to swing forward and backward, whereby the fountain feedroll 58 occupies position for inking the form rollers 55 during theupward movement of said rollers, but is otherwise disposed in aretracted position to avoid contact with said inking rollers 55. Thisoscillation of the ink fountain, through leg I45, is effected by theangular movement of the side arm 5 combined with the angular movement ofthe track I41 relative to said side arm. Referring to Figs. 17 to 20inclusive, which illustrate diagrammatically various relative positionsassumed by the ink fountain 59, form rollers 56, side arm 58 and trackI41, it will be observed that, as the form rollers 56 ascend toward thefountain feed roll 58, the side arm 50 elevates the forward end of thetrack I41 and at the same time causes the elevation of the rear end ofsaid track by sliding the beveled portion I48 thereof upon the bearingpin I49. By reason of said compound movements of the track I41, saidtrack is elevated sufficiently to cause the rocking of the ink fountain59 into a forwardly projected position in which the fountain feed roll58 engages the ascending form rollers 58. As said form rollers 56descend, the

change in angularity of the side arm 50 lowers the forward end of trackI41 and simultaneously slides the beveled rear portion I48 thereofforwardly upon the bearing pin I49, such movement of said partsresulting in the lowering of the track I41 sufliciently to allow the inkfountain to swing backward and thereby retract the fountain feed roll 58in time to avoid engagement with the descending form rollers 58.

The normal oscillation of the ink fountain 59, above described, isinterrupted when the throwoii mechanism of the unit is operated toshorten the forward throw of the bed and prevent the taking of animpression. In this connection and having reference to Figs. 3 and 18,it will be seen that the ink fountain 59 will be retracted upon acounter-clockwise movement of the back shaft as a consequence of theupward throw-off thrust of the link 81. Upon such rotation of the backshaft 49 the cap I50, which is secured thereto, turns with the saidshaft and as a result moves the bearing pin I49 rearwardly beneath thebeveled portion I48 of the track I41, thus lowering said track. Thefountain 59, supported by the track, is thereby caused to be retracted,if not then so disposed, and to remain in retracted position, whereinthe fountain feed roll 58 clears the form rollers 56.

The fountain feed roll 58 is rotated step by step to present freshlyinked portions thereof to the form rollers 56 by mechanism, best seen inFigs. 2, 4 and '1, which includes a drive shaft I5I journaled in thebranches of the U-shaped fountain extension I44. Secured to this driveshaft I5I is a gear I52 which meshes with a gear I53 on the fountainroller shaft I54. A ratchet wheel I55 also secured to said drive shaftI5I is turned by means of a pawl I55 carried on one arm of a bell crankI51 rockably mounted on said driving shaft I5I, the other end of saidbell crank being connected through a link I58 with the side arm 56 atthe left side of the machine, said link serving to impart a rockingmovement to said bell crank I51. To provide for the turning of thefountain drive shaft I54 more or less each time the bell crank I51 isactuated, we employ a shroud I 59 consisting of a disk rockably mountedon the drive shaft I5I, said disk having an offset cam surface I69 withwhich the pawl I56 may be engaged to prevent its engagement with theteeth of the ratchet I55 during a part of the rocking movement of thebell crank I51. This shroud I59 is adiustably held in various selectedpositions by means of a brace I6l which is pivotally secured at itslower end to the fountain extension I44 and slotted at its upper portionto pivotally and slidably receive a clamping bolt I-IlZ carried by anarm I63 projecting from the disklike body of the shroud I59. With saidshroud I58 positioned in selected angular relation on the shaft I5I andheld in such position by the brace IIII, the extent of rotation of thefountain roller 58 to accord with any particular requirement is secured.A hand wheel I64 on shaft I5I is supplied for manually turning thefountain roller 58 at such time as may be desired.

The inking plate 51, which is rectangular in form, is mounted on aback-frame I55 of similar form, said back-frame presenting a supportingsurface against which the back of said plate 51 bears (Fig. 12). Thisback-frame I65 is hingedly supported upon the rails 54, ears I65,provided at the lower corners of said back-frame, being pivoted on studsI61 threaded into said rails. A prop I68, depending from a shaft I59journaled

